Hearing her whispered plea, Matthias started to move. He kept his strokes slow and deep.
She couldn’t catch her breath. She could feel every pulse of his cock as it slid in and out of her. She moaned, tightening her legs around him. He was filling her clear to her soul. There was a fire building in her belly, her skin was so hot she thought she must be ash by now.
*
Matthias held on to the slow rhythm as long as he could. He felt her sex convulsing around him and knew she was close to peaking. He picked up the rhythm, groaning. He was getting close, too. “Look at me, Miranda!” he demanded, his voice tense and thick.
He could feel her holding back but he wanted her wild. When she heard his demand, she lifted her eyes to his. He was smiling…with his fangs showing. She gasped.
Matthias knew she’d be shocked at the sight of his fangs, but if they were going to have any kind of relationship, she needed to get used to seeing them. He watched as her need and passion refilled her expression. He leaned down to drag his fangs gently along her neck.
“Do it,” she choked out.
Matthias was lost in his own haze of need. His fangs were aching to sink into the silky flesh of her neck, not only to feed but to bring her pleasure higher. When she spoke, he lost all control and sank his fangs in.
The taste of her blood, the feel of her surrounding him was the most incredible feeling he’d ever had. He sucked hard at her neck, and it sent her into an intense orgasm. She chanted out his name while her body spasmed.
Matthias groaned. He clamped his fingers on her backside when she started to climax. The spasms and rush of her juices around his cock pushed him into his own release. Pulling his fangs from her neck, he licked the marks closed and let his release have him.
They stood there, entwined, while they relearned how to breathe and their bodies calmed. Matthias leaned in and softly kissed Miranda’s lips. He had so many things he wanted to say to her, but the words just wouldn’t come. Instead, he pulled free from her and shifted her so she was cradled in his arms. Matthias carried her to his bedroom and laid her on the bed, crawling in beside her. Tomorrow would be soon enough to talk.
Chapter 7
Christmas Eve came, and Miranda spent the evening with Beth and Vicki. She had invited Matthias to join them, but he had respectfully declined. He still had a few last-minute arrangements to make for the next morning. It would be easier to get them made without her around.
Matthias set the receiver back in its cradle, leaning back in his chair. He smiled. Phone calls were done for the evening. He pushed out of his chair and grabbed his coat on the way to the door. He had one stop to make before Miranda got home. Hopefully, he could find what he wanted, quickly.
* * * *
Miranda let herself into the house after her evening with the girls. They’d laughed and sung Christmas carols, eaten too much and opened their gifts from each other. Miranda had been a little disappointed that Matthias hadn’t come along, but she understood when he said he had things to do. It wasn’t as if he celebrated Christmas. It was just another day to him. The Christmas tree had been a huge concession for him to make, because he wanted to make her happy.
She thought about getting up early in the morning and baking something sweet for their breakfast. Coffee and cinnamon buns while they sat and opened presents around the tree, sounded like a perfect Christmas morning. She paused mid-step. Maybe he hadn’t gotten her a present. Maybe she was getting all excited only to be disappointed come morning. She sighed and decided it didn’t matter. Christmas wasn’t about presents; it was about spending time with the ones you loved.
Her mouth fell open at that thought. Was she in love with Matthias?
If she were honest about it, she would have to say she was. She’d had a crush on him for months now, but it was the night they picnicked under the tree that propelled her headlong into love with him.
* * * *
Matthias sat behind his desk, staring into space. He was pleased with the results from his trip into town, and only hoped Miranda would be too. He heard the front door open and got up from his chair. He walked into the hall, just as she came from the foyer. He smiled and walked to her, taking her into his arms and laying a soft kiss on her lips. “Did you have a good time?” He’d wanted to join the girls’ party, but it had been a prime opportunity for him to sneak out of the house.
Miranda smiled back, sliding her arms around his waist. “I had a very good time. I wish you could have joined us.” She pouted playfully. She leaned up, placing a quick kiss on his lips. “Do you want to see what I got from Beth and Vicki?”
“Sure, I would.” He draped his arm over her shoulders as he walked with her back toward the living room. “Did they like their presents from you? What am I saying? Of course they did.” He sat down on the couch, waiting for her to bring over the gift bags.
Miranda sat down beside him, opening the first bag. She pulled out a delicate necklace with a pendant dangling from the end. “This was from Vicki. Isn’t it pretty?” She held it out so Matthias could have a closer look.
“It is very pretty. She did a nice job picking that out.” He looked, and gave it back. “What did Beth get you?”
Miranda blushed and hesitated. “Um, yeah…” She opened the other bag and pulled out a scrap of black lace and bows. She closed her eyes and held it up to the front of herself.
Matthias nearly swallowed his tongue. “That’s, uh…” He cleared his throat. “Very nice.” He growled low, picturing her wearing it.
Miranda folded up the lingerie and put it back in the bag. “I-I’m glad you like it.” She was looking slightly uncomfortable now.
Matthias took pity on her, giving her a charming smile. “I suppose we should be getting to bed so that Santa can come. Goodnight, Miranda.” He rose from the couch, leaning down to kiss her. “Sleep well.” He wandered away, leaving her to sit there staring after him. Matthias climbed into his own bed, smiling to himself. Miranda probably was figuring on him being too thick to think of presents. Wait till she woke up in the morning. She’d have quite the surprise.
*
Miranda had been sure that Matthias would invite her to spend the night with him after she showed him the nightie. She was even more sure when he growled at her. When he got up and went to bed, never mentioning her joining him, she could only stare after him in confusion. Slightly annoyed, Miranda got up from the couch and made her way to her room. She set her alarm for early in the morning so she could get up and make the cinnamon buns. Crawling into bed, she had a slight hope that Matthias had gotten her a little something to open in the morning. She closed her eyes and drifted off to dream of sugarplums.
* * * *
Miranda got up and showered when the alarm went off, put on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, and headed for the kitchen. She quietly set out all the ingredients for the cinnamon buns, and got busy. Humming Christmas carols under her breath, she danced around the kitchen.
As she pulled the last tray out of the oven, Miranda looked up when Christmas music started filtering through the house. Scrunching up her face, she wiped her hands on a towel and wandered into the living room. She stopped short when she reached the doorway. There, standing beside the tree, was Matthias in his bathrobe. Under the tree was a stack of presents from the floor to the lower branches and all the way around. When she’d gone into the kitchen, the only present under there had been the one she’d gotten for Matthias.
Matthias grinned at the look on Miranda’s face. “It seems someone has been very good this year. Why don’t you come a little closer and see who all this is for?”
Miranda couldn’t find her voice. She’d been preparing herself to not be disappointed when she got up this morning and got no gifts. She’d been hoping for something small from him, but this…This was totally unexpected. She stepped into the room, walking toward the tree and Matthias. “You did all this?” She looked at him, astounded. Why would he do this for her?
M
atthias reached his hand up and brushed a bit of flour from her cheek. “Of course not, Santa did,” he said softly, grinning.
Miranda laughed and looked down at all the gifts.
“Better get started or we’ll be here all day,” Matthias whispered behind her.
She gave him a beaming smile over her shoulder, and knelt down in front of the tree. “I don’t even know where to start,” she said, her head moving left to right.
Matthias knelt down beside her and picked one up. “Here you go. Start with this one.”
Miranda opened the first gift and moved on to the others. It took her over an hour but she finally got them all opened. There were gifts anywhere from cookbooks to business suits, jewelry to lingerie. She stared over the sea of discarded wrapping paper, bows and boxes. “Thank you, Matthias.” She smiled up at him with tears in her eyes. She handed him the last wrapped gift from under the tree. “This one is yours.”
Matthias opened his gift and smiled. “This is very nice, Miranda. Thank you.” He leaned over and kissed her lips. “I mean it. Thank you.”
Miranda smiled at him, getting to her feet. “I made cinnamon buns. They’re in the kitchen, and should still be warm. Would you like one with a cup of coffee?”
Matthias nodded. “Please. I can’t remember the last time I had homemade cinnamon buns.”
He started to climb to his feet, but Miranda stopped him. “I’ll get it. We’ll breakfast in the Sea of Paper.” She grinned, gesturing toward the floor, before leaving the room.
*
Matthias watched the sway of her hips as she walked away. Her other present was burning a hole in his bathrobe pocket. He tapped the pocket, deciding to give it to her when they were done eating.
Miranda returned with a tray full of cinnamon buns and coffee, and set it on the coffee table. She sat down on the floor beside Matthias, started passing him plates, and laughed, looking back at her gifts. “I don’t know where I’m going to put all of that.”
Matthias put his coffee down and smiled at her. “I have an idea.” He reached inside his pocket and pulled out the small box. “What’s this? Seems I’ve found another present with your name on it.” He held out the box to Miranda, waiting for her to take it.
Miranda looked at the box. “Matthias…” she protested. “You’ve already given me plenty, more than enough, actually.” When he set it on her knee, she gave up trying to argue with him and picked it up. Opening the box, she gasped when she saw what was inside.
Matthias watched her closely, feeling the emotions rolling from her. She was happy and totally surprised. “Marry me, Miranda?” He’d meant to give a grand speech, but when the time came, the only thing that had come out were those three little words.
Miranda looked up at Matthias, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I-I can’t.” She shot to her feet and fled the room.
Miranda had just reached her bedroom door, when Matthias darted up behind her. “Miranda, wait…” Before she could close her door in his face, he pushed his way inside.
Miranda turned a glare on him, but it lost something in the flow of misery wafting off of her. “Just leave me be, Matthias. I can’t do this with you, not right now.” She turned away, wrapping her arms around her belly.
Matthias walked up behind her, sliding his arms around her. He kissed the side of her head, pulling her back against his chest. “Baby, please. Tell me what’s wrong so I can fix it. Please.”
Miranda just shook her head, keeping her face turned away from him. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for ruining all you did for me this morning.”
Matthias could feel her pain as if it was his own. He tried rocking her back and forth, while he hugged her tight. “Sweetheart, you haven’t ruined anything. But I need to know why you don’t think you can marry me. Did I do such a terrible job of asking? I know that you love me, Miranda.”
Miranda gasped and jerked herself from his arms, whipping around. “Why don’t you just rub it in, Matthias? Don’t you think I’m mortified enough?”
Matthias looked at her, exasperated. “I’m rubbing nothing in! I’m trying to figure out what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours, that’s all! And why the hell would you be mortified to have me know that you love me?”
Miranda just stared at him. “Because you don’t love me back! You proposed, offered me something I only dreamed about, and I can’t accept because you don’t love me!” Her face was bright red with her anger and embarrassment.
“Don’t love you back? What the hell are you talking about? Why would I propose if I didn’t love you, Miranda? Can’t you feel it?” He stood there with his hands on his hips, glaring back at her.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Matthias watched the confusion float over her features. “Miranda. Feel me.”
Matthias could tell she thought about what he said, stopped focusing on her own pain and tried—for the first time—to feel him on purpose. Her head popped up and she gasped. Fresh tears started to run down her cheeks. “Matthias?” She stepped closer to him, searching his eyes. “You do love me? For real?”
“I do, Miranda. I’ve been fighting it for months. At first it was merely attraction, but the longer you were here, the more I realized that I could see spending my life with you. Then the dreams started, and I had to hide my reaction to you so you wouldn’t know. It wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done. When you were injured in your car accident, I let myself feel you so I could find you. That bound us tighter. Then you fed me, and I knew that, combined with everything else, I wouldn’t be able to fight it without building some serious shields. But then I saw how those shields were hurting you, and I had this overwhelming need to make it right. That was when I thought of the tree. I knew it would please you to have it, and seeing the absolute delight on your face was its own reward. Making love with you—for real, not in a dream—was the most amazing experience of my life. I knew that night that I might as well give up the fight. You were my soulmate, and there was no more denying it.”
Miranda had moved closer to him. After his little speech, she kept quiet for a minute and let all he said sink in. “Wait a minute. You’ve been making love with me in dreams?” She closed her eyes to ask the next question. “Does ‘naughty secretary’ mean anything to you?” She blushed, opening her eyes to wait for his answer.
“Naughty secretary was one of my favorites, yes. Do you remember the dream where you…” He touched his hand to her belly and swallowed hard. “…were carrying my child, and we were making love?”
She put her hand over his on her belly, nodding. “I wanted that to be real, so bad. I thought, if nothing else came of us, I would have a small piece of you to love.”
“I can’t really say whether it’s possible or not, but we can try, if that’s what you want.” Matthias pulled her ring from his pocket. “Sweetheart, can I please put this on your finger now? You’re going to give me a complex if you say no again.” He winked at her as he held his hand out for hers.
Miranda looked in his eyes. She laid her hand in his outstretched one and nodded. Her voice was a husky whisper when she answered him. “I would love to marry you, Matthias.”
Matthias gave her a huge grin, sliding the ring onto her finger. When it was resting right where it should be, he lifted her hand and kissed the ring. “I love you, Miranda.”
“I love you, Matthias.” She gave him a brilliant smile, launching herself into his arms, where he held her tight.
Epilogue
One year later, Matthias and Miranda were sitting under the Christmas tree. Miranda had just finished opening her mountain of gifts and now it was his turn. Matthias opened the first package she gave him, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Sweetheart, I think there was a mistake made at the store.” He held up a filmy nightgown. “This will never fit.” He chuckled.
Miranda giggled. “Open the next one, Matthias.” She handed him another package. This one contained a matching robe for the nightgown. He laughed out loud
when he held it up.
Miranda shook her head at him, rolling her eyes. “Matthias, look closer at them. Do they look familiar at all?”
Matthias did as he was bid. “They do seem a bit familiar. Are you going to wear this for me tonight?” He gave her a lecherous look.
“It won’t fit just yet. It will be too big,” she answered. When his expression didn’t change, she just handed him the next gift. “Here.”
Matthias opened the box. “Now this is ridiculous.” He huffed, pulling out the teddy-bear inside. “What am I to do with this?”
Miranda started to laugh. She couldn’t help it. For Matthias being such a smart man, he was oblivious to the hints he’d gotten. “Look at the nightgown with the teddy bear,” she told him between giggles.
Matthias looked from the nightgown to the bear and back again. He pulled the nightgown closer to look at the label. His eyes widened and he looked at Miranda, swallowing hard.
Miranda nodded rapidly at the question in his eyes. “We did it…Daddy.” She smiled.
Matthias scooped Miranda up against him and started to rain kisses all over her face. “I’ve never been this happy. I have the most beautiful wife with our child growing inside her. This is the best Christmas ever. I love you.”
“As I love you, husband,” Miranda vowed, kissing him back.
The End
Publisher’s Note
Please help this author’s career by posting an honest review wherever you purchased this book.
About Tracey Steinbach
I am known by a few names. At any one time I am known as Mom, Mommy or Mama, depending on which of my three children are wanting me. My husband of nineteen years has his own names for me. But the name on my driver’s license says Tracey. I work as a cost accountant at a local manufacturing plant.
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